NEW DELHI: Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Neeraj Kumar on Saturday criticised the Assam government‘s decision to end the practice of a two-hour adjournment for Jumma prayers in the state assembly.
He claimed that the decision, which was unanimously taken by Hindu and Muslim MLAs, undermines religious beliefs and suggests that the Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma should focus instead on issues like poverty alleviation and flood prevention.
“The decision made by the Assam Chief Minister is against the core principles of the country’s Constitution. Every religious belief has the right to preserve its traditions. I want to ask CM Sarma: You are imposing a ban on Friday holidays during Ramadan and claim that this will increase work efficiency. A significant part of Hindu tradition is the Maa Kamakhya Temple–can you impose a ban on the practice of sacrifice there?” he said.
“No one has the right to attack religious beliefs. It would have been better if you focused your attention on lifting people above the poverty line and ensuring that Assam doesn’t have to face floods,” the JDU leader added.
In contrast, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the decision, stating that it was reached through consensus among Hindu and Muslim legislators.
“The Hindus and Muslims of our assembly sat in the MLA’s Rule Committee and unanimously resolved that the two-hour break is not right. We should work during this period as well. This practice started in 1937 and has been discontinued from yesterday,” said Sarma.
The scrapping of the two-hour adjournment, which was a colonial-era practice introduced by Saadulah’s Muslim League government in 1937, has been met with opposition from some quarters. Under the old rule, the Assam assembly would adjourn its sitting at 11 am every Friday to allow Muslim members to attend prayers. However, as per the new rule, the assembly will now conduct its proceedings continuously without any religious breaks. The amendment was aimed at eliminating what was perceived as a divisive colonial practice.
As per the amended rules, the Assam assembly will now commence its proceedings at 9.30 am every day, including Fridays, eliminating the special provision for Jumma prayers. The official order justified the amendment as a move to end a colonial-era practice that aimed to divide society along religious lines.